EDINBURG, Texas (AP) — Khadija Shaw scored just after the halftime and Jamaica went on to upset Costa Rica 1-0 on Monday in the group stage of the CONCACAF Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament.
Costa Rica, ranked No. 34 in the world, was playing backup goalkeeper Daniela Solera because Maria Bermudez fractured her arm in the opening group game. Shaw’s goal for the 64th-ranked Reggae Girlz came in the 46th minute.
Group B also includes Canada and Cuba, which play in Monday’s late match at HEB Park.
Group A, which is playing in Cary, North Carolina, includes the defending World Cup champion United States. The top two finishers in each group advance to play in the semifinals in Frisco, Texas, next Sunday.
The top three finishers in the tournament earn spots in the Women’s World Cup in France next summer. The fourth-place finisher goes to a playoff against Argentina for a berth.
Jamaica, which has never made a World Cup field, fell 2-0 to Canada in the team’s opening Group B game. Costa Rica defeated Cuba 8-0 in their first game. Group B play concludes on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Adriana Leon and Jordyn Huitema each had four goals in Canada’s dominating 12-0 victory over Cuba on Monday night in the group stage of the CONCACAF Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament.
Canada, ranked No. 5 in the world, needed a big result against No. 88 Cuba after Jamaica’s surprising 1-0 upset of Costa Rica earlier in the day in Group B at HEB Park.
Leon scored in the 11th, 23rd, 55th and 59th minutes, while Huitema scored in the 13th, 37th, 52nd and 71st minutes. Christine Sinclair, Deanne Rose, Rebecca Quinn and Diana Matheson also scored.
Matheson made her 198th appearance for Canada, while Sophie Schmidt earned her 175th cap.
Group A, which is playing in Cary, North Carolina, includes the defending World Cup champion United States. The top two finishers in each group advance to play in the semifinals in Frisco, Texas, next Sunday.
The top three finishers in the tournament earn spots in the Women’s World Cup in France next summer. The fourth-place finisher goes to a playoff against Argentina for a berth.
Group B play concludes on Thursday.
